The coaches have spoken, and Dabo Swinney and Jimbo Fisher appear to be in the vast minority.

Much has been said (mostly by ACC coaches and players) about the ferocity of the ACC, but it appears Swinney’s and Fisher’s peers aren’t buying it. The 2014 USA Today/Amway Coaches Poll was released today, with 7 members from the SEC making the list to only 3 from the ACC…the fewest of any conference.

In fact, shed the top 25 and make it the top 20, and the SEC still has 7…to the ACC’s 2.

Entries, by conference:

SEC 7 teamsPac-12 6Big 10 4Big 12 4ACC 3Independents 1 (Notre Dame).

Of note, FSU predictably starts at #1, as most defending national champs do. But there at #2 is a familiar face:

The Alabama Crimson Tide.

The team most know, recognize and accept was the victim of its own past success and others’ blind luck last season begins the 2014 campaign within sniffing distance of familiar territory, but not quite there.

And you can bet Nicholas Saban wouldn’t have it any other way.

An explanation of how the poll works, from USA Today:

“The Amway Coaches Poll is conducted weekly throughout the regular season using a panel of head coaches at FBS schools. The panel is chosen by random draw, conference by conference plus independents, from a pool of coaches who have indicated to the American Football Coaches Association their willingness to participate. Each coach submits a Top 25 with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second place 24, and so on down to one point for 25th.”

It’s interesting too that Alabama begins 2014 ranked ahead of the only two teams that handed the Tide losses in 2013. Is this an indicator of who the better team actually was on those particular game days? Did circumstances play a factor in the outcomes of those games? Those with cognitive activity and a pedestrian understanding of college football know that answer.

This last point has been the subject of much debate this off-season, but come on people, grow up. If the phantom offsides penalty isn’t called in the Auburn game (admitted to be a mistake by the SEC) and Bama keeps the rare made field goal that followed, the Tide rolls Auburn by 14-20 pts., destroys Missouri and goes on to dismantle FSU for its third consecutive national title. Or heck, for that matter, subtract any of a half dozen mysterious happenings during the Iron Bowl for the same result…A.K.A., the only way Auburn ever beats Alabama under Nick Saban.

Here’s hoping this poll is somewhat accurate, and Bama gets a shot at FSU at the end of this season. A quick check of Nick Saban’s record in title games indicates, unlike Auburn, Bama wouldn’t fail at finishing the job under the game’s brightest lights.

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“This last point is the subject of much debate this off-season, but come on people, grow up. If the phantom offsides penalty isn’t called in the Auburn game (admitted to be a mistake by the SEC) and Bama keeps the rare made field goal that followed, the Tide rolls Auburn by 14-20 pts., destroys Missouri and goes on to dismantle FSU for its third consecutive national title. Or heck, for that matter, subtract any of a half dozen mysterious happenings during the Iron Bowl for the same result…A.K.A., the only way Auburn ever beats Alabama under Nick Saban.”

Keep telling yourself this over and over and over and over, and maybe, just maybe it will become reality.

It would suit me fine if Alabama were to start the season a little lower at 3 or even 4. I believe its better to have something to prove rather than just trying to defend a top ranking every week. But, I kind of doubt Fla State will lose until the playoffs, unless Florida is much improved and can beat the Seminoles.

I’m with Hunter. FSU struggled against one of the worst defenses in the country. I’m simply doubtful they have what it takes to win against some the best defenses, that’s all.

The problem, of course, is we won’t know until they reach the playoff. Which they will.

And there’s some weird, almost poetic justice in Clemson. Frankly, they’re a great football team. They puked against FSU last year (and I don’t think they’ll beat FSU at FSU this year), but Alabama fans know what that can do. Still, Clemson gets overlooked. They might not be the best, but I would have put them above plenty others last year and I imagine I’ll say the same thing this year after the FSU game being their only hope.

There’s a LITTLE bit of a conference discrepancy when you look at Notre Dame.

While Notre Dame (wisely?) retains its independent status in football, they do play ACC teams now, including FSU this season and Clemson next season.

Still, even if you include the Irish, all that really does is make it a 3-way tie for last place.

I will say I have a little problem with the 1st-place votes for Oklahoma. No, it’s not because Alabama lost to them in the Sugar Bowl—-I have said plenty how good I thought Oklahoma was last year even before the bowl game, not to mention before last season.

But Oklahoma played a nearly perfect game, not to mention they incorporated the HUNHNS and a personel switch. It was the kind of performance that simply doesn’t happen every weekend and, despite OU’s relatively simple schedule (and how much they’ll tout beating Tennessee), I don’t think they’re the best team in the country even in the pre-season. That doesn’t mean they won’t get to the playoff, particularly because of their schedule.

Then again, they beat Alabama, and that’s apparently all it takes to be ranked high in the preseason, win Heismans and get hundreds of millions of dollars for stadium rennovations. Just ask TAMU, Auburn, Oklahoma, et al (no wait, that’s all of them). I think that shows you how respected the consistency has become at Alabama, regardless of any arguments anyone wants to make about ESPN SEC bias or the SEC being overrated—–the BIG12 and PAC12 coaches weren’t complaining about the ACC all last week and vice versa; they were complaining about the SEC and why they should be seen as equal. Alabama puts the exclamation point on the SEC.

By the way, if you’re wondering why the final weekend of the 1971 season, on which No. 1 Nebraska held off No. 2 Oklahoma 35-31 and No. 3 Alabama routed No. 5 Auburn 31-7, isn’t on the list, here’s why. Those games actually took place two days apart, the former on Thanksgiving Day [Nov. 25] and the Iron Bowl on the following Saturday).

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Watch Jacob Coker throw to Amari Cooper, other AlabamaBy the way, if you’re wondering why the final weekend of the 1971 season, on which No. 1 Nebraska held off No. 2 Oklahoma 35-31 and No. 3 Alabama routed No. 5 Auburn 31-7, isn’t on the list, here’s why. Those games actually took place two days apart, the former on Thanksgiving Day [Nov. 25] and the Iron Bowl on the following Saturday).

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Rookie TE Jace Amaro suggested going from Texas Tech’s offense to the Jets is like going from Chinese to English.
Amaro is reportedly struggling so badly that he’s begun frustrating teammates, including Geno Smith. After another drop in Wednesday’s practice, one teammate yelled “Can’t catch a cold” at Amaro, who was later taken aside by GM John Idzik. Amaro should be left off the re-draft radar in fantasy leagues.

The Southeastern Conference does not customarily comment on specific plays, but SEC Coordinator of Officials Steve Shaw did clarify the rules in question Sunday in an email response to The Tuscaloosa News.

“It is an illegal forward pass if it is thrown by an offensive player whose entire body is beyond the neutral zone when he releases the ball,” Shaw said. “Key words are entire body.”

Screen shots of the play show at least three Auburn linemen — ineligible receivers — past the line of scrimmage as Marshall makes his way toward the left sideline. Under Rule 7, Article 10 of the NCAA football rules manual, ineligible receivers downfield on a pass play can result in a penalty, although linemen can block downfield on a running play.

The issue is how far downfield they progressed before Marshall released the pass.

“No originally ineligible receiver shall be or have been more than 3 yards beyond the neutral zone until a legal forward pass that crosses the neutral zone has been thrown,” Shaw said. “The key word is thrown — it is where the players are when the pass is released.”

None of the Auburn linemen are past the 3-yard zone in a screen shot that has been circulated online among Alabama fans.

As long as those blockers players meet a specific criteria, they are also not guilty of pass interference, according to Shaw.

“It is not offensive pass interference when after the snap an ineligible receiver immediately charges and contacts an opponent at a point not more than 1 yard beyond the neutral zone and does not continue the contact more than 3 yards beyond the neutral zone,” Shaw said.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said after the game that UA’s defensive scheme on the play called for Coates to be bracketed in coverage by a cornerback and a safety. Both ran toward Marshall, defending the play as a run and leaving their coverage responsibilities, resulting in Coates being able to catch the ball undefended and run unimpeded to the end zone.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said after the game that the Tigers ran the same play — which has an option for the quarterback to hand off up the middle, carry the ball around the end or pass — on the preceding snap, and that Marshall had noted that the cornerback was biting on the run.

“I know it was under a minute and we had a read option right there,” Malzahn said. “It was one those things like do we throw the football, and I felt like we were getting a rhythm and a cheap one from their corner, he kind of came off. And Nick looked back and said, ‘Let’s run the same play.’ He knew what we were thinking and he made a great throw.”

been allowed to block 3-5 yards down field on a pass play that crosses the line of scrimmage.

This b.s. gets settled this off season when the rules are changed. Bank it. This is a rule change year, and much of Gus’ dipsy-doo, trickeroo will be curtailed, just as it has been in the NFL.

Which will make this season THAT MUCH more enjoyable, knowing AU’s last shot at glory will, again, fall short in a year when their tampon offense can’t overcome the 4-5 losses that are on their way to Lee County as we speak.

Don’t worry, I’m sure the AU coaching staff has their police scanners going even as you’re reading this in hopes of finding your next transfers.

According to the rules it was legal. They even explain it for you. I know its hard to swallow and claiming Auburn cheated makes you feel better but the fact is Auburn ran a legal play and the refs made the right call.

And im still waiting for this link to the SEC admitting they were wrong on some phantom holding call.

Steve Shaw was covering his arse. His crew missed several calls that day that cost the SEC’s bell cow, the Crimson Tide, a shot at a three peat…something Auburn fans will never, ever sniff a shot at…and you know that full well.

What you experienced last season was a sham, just like Cam being allowed to play when God and everybody knows he was paid, while an impotent NCAA could do nothing about it.

The veil comes off ole high school coach this season…gonna be FUN. Don’t worry, his two years of experience as a college head coach will hold up.

Just like DJFluker was allowed to play when he got $45,500, and they showed he got it. By the way, you haven’t showed where the SEC said they made a mistake. If Cecil had gotten the money, someone would have found it by now.

Sure. Just accept it. Auburn won fair and square. The play was legal. Its even explained to you in a way that a 3 year old can understand (though I think they may have to reduce that to something even easier for you).

Bama fans have been trying to find any excuse they can to convince themselves that Auburn won that game unfairly. They even started a petition to force the game into overtime because they said Davis stepped out of bounds.

Screen shots of the play show at least three Auburn linemen — ineligible receivers — past the line of scrimmage as Marshall makes his way toward the left sideline. Under Rule 7, Article 10 of the NCAA football rules manual, ineligible receivers downfield on a pass play can result in a penalty, although linemen can block downfield on a running play.

The issue is how far downfield they progressed before Marshall released the pass.

“No originally ineligible receiver shall be or have been more than 3 yards beyond the neutral zone until a legal forward pass that crosses the neutral zone has been thrown,” Shaw said. “The key word is thrown — it is where the players are when the pass is released.”

None of the Auburn linemen are past the 3-yard zone in a screen shot that has been circulated online among Alabama fans.

As long as those blockers players meet a specific criteria, they are also not guilty of pass interference, according to Shaw.

Could it be the reason they have Auburn ranked lower is a much more difficult schedule( don’t know how that is possible since we only play Bama once,but I digress.) That must mean the coaches think we are going to be pretty good, that they rank us that high with the schedule we have. Heard on Jox yesterday, we play 7 top 25 teams in the Coaches Poll. The 4 teams above us, by comparison, will play 12 total.
To Peachy: You can show all the facts you want about our td in the IB being legal, with the explanation of why it was legal(from a Bama grad no less), till the day you die. They will still say it wasn’t legal. Facts always confuse Bama fans.

Actually, no, Auburn isn’t ranked lower because of a harder schedule. It doesn’t have anything to do with the schedule. Otherwise Notre Dame would probably be #1 every season.

Again, this is about picking the best football teams. It’s the preseason, so don’t think TOO hard about it, but it’s not about schedules and losses. Remember Boise State?

For example, Auburn beat Alabama last year. Take away all the excuses, fine, but Alabama was the better team and they lost (Alabama would have gone to Atlanta without the Georgia miracle, for one, regardless of the Iron Bowl loss in any fashion), but this is the preseason ranking. Alabama was ranked higher than Auburn, lost to Auburn and dropped below Auburn (but coincidentally still in the top four). Just don’t get too upset about the preseason numbers, that’s all.

After all, remember these are the coaches rankings, not the playoff committee choices, which will also be public and also won’t come out until we’re actually playing football.

Running blocking rules on a pass play seem to confuse Aubie fans, and Steve Shaw when needing to cover his arse for costing the SEC’s bell cow a shot at a threepeat.

I’m fine with facts, don’t get me wrong. Facts like Bama still leads the series by a considerable margin, has more national championships in the last five years than Auburn has in its entire existence, and Auburn fans live on this and other Bama sites in proof that they are still, and will always be, little brother.

Now, come back at me whining about your schedule. I need to go ahead and hear that’s the reason last year was simply another in a long line of flash-in-the-pan seasons in Lee County.

You can argue about if the rule is right to have, and I wouldn’t disagree, but college is not the NFL. The rules are different. If the rule states you can’t be more than 3 yards downfield, it is not a penalty. So every team has the right to use that rule to their advantage.